Package opener and cigar cutter



Oct. 24, 1933.- .w. c. GROBLE PACKAGE OPENER AND CIGAR CUTTER 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22, 1932 Oct. 24, 1933. w c GROBLE 1,932,211

PACKAGE OPENER AND CIGAR CUTTER Filed June 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lll a %J 6 r 8 e Z fi 3 J wh: 7 2; E ::EE%E w 1/ 1 6 WM 2 z i a m M Z Z,W. a 7 a Z 2 1% W Patented Oct. 24, 1933 PACKAGE @FENIER AND CIGARCUTTER William Groble, Anderson, Ind.

Application June 22, 193%. Serial No. 618, "I8

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a package opener and cigar cutter and will bedescribed as incorporated in a device for opening a package ofcigarettes and the like.

An object of this invention is the provision of a device of the classidentified which is adapted to open a package of cigarettes and the likeby cutting the packaging material at one end adjacent one side tofacilitate the dispensing of the .1 contents of the package.

It has become the practice of cigarette manufacturers in the packagingof cigarettes, to place the cigarettes in a paper container which issealed at the end and thereafter to cover the paper conf tainer with atransparent moisture and airproof sealing member of the type commonlyknown as Cellophane. The sealing element or covering for the paperpackage or container is relatively tough and diflicultto tear or breakwith any dejgree of accuracy. It has therefore in the past beenpractically necessary to completely remove the moisture-proofingmaterial from the package prior to opening the package. As it iscustomary to open a ci arette package at one corner and I remove thecigarettes one at a time as used, it

is desirable that the moisture-proofing material should remain on thepackage until the cigarettes have been used. It is therefore an objectof my invention to provide a device which is adapted ito out themoisture-proofing material together with the paper package at one end ofthe package adjacent one corner or edge to facilitate the removal ofcigarettes without the necessity of first removing the moisture-proofingmaterial I from the package.

Another object is the provision of a device of the type above identifiedwhich has combined and associated therewith a cigar cutter and othermeans for mounting and illuminating an adveri tisement.

Other advantages and objects of this invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

On the drawings: 1

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a package opening device and cigar cutterincorporating my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of that shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the device shown in Figures 1 and5 and taken on substantially the line III-III of Figure 5.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on substantially the line IVIV ofFigure 2.

(o ran-5s) figure 5 is a fragmentary section taken on substantially theline V-V of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a cigarette package having been openedby a device ofthe type disclosed in Figure 1, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section of a modification of my inventionillustrating a novel form of actuating means for the cutting knife.

As shown on the drawings:

The device herein illustrated preferably comprises a cast metal casing 5comprising side walls 6 and 7 and end walls 8 and 9 having their loweredges in a single plane adapted to rest on a table and the like forsupporting the package opener.

The top 11 of the casing 5 has a downwardly inclined portion 12 havingan opening 13 therein. About the edges of the opening 13 is preferablyfixed a frame 14 by suitable rivets 15 for holding in. position atranslucent advertisement 16 adapted to be illuminated from beneath byan electric lamp 17' disposed in a socket 18'. A package receiver 17 towhich access may be gained through the top 11 is preferably of a sizeand shape to oconnnodate one end of a cigarette package 18 disposedtherein as shown in Figure 5. Adjacent the bottom wall 19 of thereceiver 17, a slot 21 is provided through the side walls of thereceiver through which the cutting knife 22 is adapted to pass in themanner best shownin Figure 4 for severing a portion 23 from one end ofthe package as shown in Figures 5 and 6 to permit the removal ofcigarettes which may be contained therein without otherwise injuring thepackage. Through the bottom 19 of the receiver 1*! I have provided anopening 24 into which one end of a cigar may be placed for holding it inposition while the knife 22 is actuated to clip the end from the cigar.-

For the purpose of guiding and actuating the knife, I have provided amechanism comprising two parallel blade rods 26 and 2'? secured at theiropposite ends in the end wall 8 and in openings in a depending lug onthe bottom 19 of the receiver 17. Slidasly disposed on the guide rod isa crosshead 29 having the rear end of the knife fixed to its upper faceby a bolt or set screw 31 for rigidly securing the knife to thecrosshcad and moving the same longitudinally as the crosshead isactuated along the guide rods 26 and 27. A spring 33 is disposed betweenthe crosshead 29 and the depending lug 28 for normally urging thecrosshead rearwardly to withdraw the knife to the position shown in fulllines in Figure 4 from the position shown in broken lines in Figure 4.The crosshead 29 is adapted to be forcibly actuated forwardly by aconnecting rod 35 pivotally 110.

secured at one end to the crosshead 29 and at the other end to arotatable disc 36 pivotally mounted on the sidewall 6 by a bolt 37 andspaced therefrom by a spacer 38. It will be readily understood from thisconstruction that by rotating the disc 36 by means of the actuatinghandle 41 through the slot 42 will cause the connecting rod 35 to bemoved forwardly thereby drawing the crosshead 29 along the rods 26 and27 and force the knife 22 through the slot 21 in the receiver 17 to openthe package 18 or to clip the end from a cigar which may be positionedin the opening 24.

In Figure '7 I have shown a modification of my invention in which theconnecting rod 35 is pivot ally secured at the forward end to a crankarm 45 fixed on the gear disc 46. The disc 46 is pivotally securedadjacent the side wall 6 by a bolt 4'7 and is adapted to be actuated bya rack 48 having teeth 49 meshing with teeth 50 on the gear disc 46. Aguide roller 52 is mounted on the wall 6 and disposed for engagement bythe rear side of the rack 48 for guiding the same throughout its rangeof reciprocation. The upper end of the rack i8 is preferably cylindricaland of reduced size forming a plunger 53 passing through the upper wall11 of the casing. On the upper end of the plunger 53 is disposed a cap54 throu h which pressure may be transmitted to the plunger for movingthe rack 48 downwardly. A coil spring 55 is provided which connects therack 43 to top 11 of the casing for returning the rack to normalposition after it has been moved downwardly by the plunger 53.

Although I have herein described and illustrated only the preferredforms of my invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in theart that this invention is susceptible of various forms andmodifications without departing from the principle thereof as set forthin the appended claims and I desire that the patent to be granted hereonshall not be limited in any manner except as necessitated by the priorart.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, a receptacle adapted to confineone end of a package to be opened, a wall of said receptacle having anaperture theret rough spaced from the bottom of the receptacle, cuttingmeans disposed to be projected into the receptacle through the ape"-ture to cut open a package positioned in the receptacle when the cuttingis actuated, guide means for said cuttin means, an- :neans operablyconnected to said cutting means whereby cutting means may forciblyactuated, said actuating means comprising a member slidably mounted onsaid guide means, a connecting rod pivotally fixed to said member, andcrank means for ctuating said connecting rod.

2. In a device of the class described, a receptacle adapted to confineone end of a package to be opened, a wall of said receptacle having anaperture therethrough spaced from the bottom of the receptacle, cuttingm ans disposed to be projected into the receptacle through the apertureto cut open a package positioned in the receptacle when the cuttingmeans is actuated, guide means for said cutting means, and meansoperably connected to said cutting means whereby said cutting means maybe forcibly actuated, said actuating means comprising a member siidabiymounted on said guide means, a connecting rod pivotally fixed to saidmember, and rack and gear mechanism operably connected to saidconnecting rod for actuating the same.

3. In a device of the class described, a receptacle adapted to confineone end of a package to be opened, a wall of said receptacle having anaperture therethrough spaced from the bottom of the receptacle, cuttingmeans disposed to be projected into the receptacle through the apertureto cut open a package positioned in the receptacle when the cuttingmeans is actuated, guide means for said cutting means, a plungerdisposed adjacent said receptacle, a rack on said plunger, a gearengaged by said rack and devices operably connecting said gear to saidcutting means for actuating the cutting means.

4. In a device of the class described, a package receptacle having anopening therein, a casing supporting said receptacle, a knife disposedadjacent to said receptacle and adapted to pass through the opening intothe receptacle and cut a package disposed therein when actuated, a guiderod for said knife, a crosshead on said guide rod fixed to said knife,and means for reciprocating said crosshead along said guide rod toactuate said knife.

5. In a device of the class described, a package receptacle having anopening therein, a casing supporting said receptacle, a knife disposedadjacent tosaid receptacle and adapted to pass through the opening intothe receptacle and cut a package disposed therein when actuated, a guiderod for said knife, a crosshead on said guide rod fixed to said knife,and means for reciprocating said crosshead along said guide rod toactuatesaid knife, said receptacle having a recess into which a cigarmay be anchoredin the path of movement of said knife to be clippedthereby when said knife is actuated.

In a device of the class described, a package receptacle havin anopening therein, a casing supporting said receptacle, a knife disposedadjacent to said receptacle and adapted to pass through the opening intothe receptacle and cut a package disposed therein when actuated, a guiderod for said knife, a crosshead on said guide rod fixed to said knife,and means for reciprocating said crosshead along said guide rod toactuate said knife, said means comprising a vertically movable plunger,a spring normally urging said plunger upwardly, a rack on said plunger,a gear actuated by said rack and a connecting rod operably connected tosaid gear and to said crosshead to actuate said knife when said plungeris pressed downwardly.

'7. In a device of the class described, a package receptacle having anopening therein, a casing supporting said receptacle, a knife disposedadjacent to said receptacle and adapted to pass through the opening intothe receptacle and cut a package disposed therein when actuated, a guiderod for said knife, a crosshead on said guide rod fixed to said knife,and means for reciprocating said crosshead along said guide rod toactuate said knife, said means comprising a vertically movable plunger,a spring normally urging said plunger upwardly, a rotatable elementdisposed adjacent said plunger, means on said plunger engaging said rtatable element for rotating the same, a connecting rod operablyconnected to said rotating element and to said crosshead to actuate saidknife when said plunger is pressed downwardly, and spring meansinterposed between said receptacle and said crosshead for returning thecrosshead and the knife to normal position after it has been actuatedforwardly.

WILLIAM C. GROBLE.

